The point after carrying out a bad idea, at which you immediately realize it was a bad idea.

Johns car overheated, so he pulled to the side of the road to check it out. Without thinking about it, he grabbed a paper towel and used it to protect his hand from the heat as he removed the radiator cap. I'm sure John thought this was a perfect mid-future situation as the boiling antifreeze from the radiator sprayed all over his arms and face.